A SWIFT way forward is urgently needed for Firepool after a planning application for the site was refused, according to key figures in the town.

On Wednesday night, Taunton Deane Borough Council's planning committee refused an application to build on the site, which included plans for a supermarket, cinema, homes and retail outlets.

Cllr John Williams, leader of the council, was at the meeting on Wednesday.

He said: “Firepool’s regeneration remains our priority. We have come a long way since development on the site was proposed and we are most definitely not back to square one.

“The concerns of the planning committee centred around layout and design, rather than the principle of development and the mix of use, so we will now address these with our development partner St Modwen with the aim of finding a way forward as soon as possible.”

RELATED: Plans for Firepool REFUSED by Taunton Deane Borough Council 

Dale Edward, chief executive at the Somerset Chamber, said: “Predictions by Somerset County Council indicate that the number of households in Somerset will need to grow by 14,000 between 2013 and 2021 mainly due to net migration and changing composition of households.

"The development of Firepool in Taunton, a site which has been derelict and an eyesore for many years, would act as a catalyst to generate continued inward investment to the County town, satisfy the needs of a growing population and develop Taunton as a destination for leisure and business.

"Whilst the decision of the Council has to be respected, a swift resolution to develop this site is urgently needed.”

The planning committee's decision has caused a divide in public opinion, with some angry that the developemtn is not going ahead, and others feeling that the quality of the proposal was not good enough.

RELATED: Could Firepool endanger Taunton town centre?

John Burgess, of Taunton-based chartered landscape architects Swan Paul Partnership, said: "I am glad to see that TDBC has rejected the Firepool proposals by LHD developments, in my opinion the masterplan was a missed opportunity to get a really exciting and ground-breaking development on this unique site.

"The plans were dull and plodding and consisted of a huge car park around yet another town centre supermarket (does Taunton really need another?), with a small concession to a bit of open space and residential along the River Tone.

"The link to the railway station seems to have been abandoned and overall I think the plans show a serious lack of ambition.

"We can do much better than this on what is a rare and special site….it has waterfront, it has a canal basin and its close to the town centre, and there are not many of those in Somerset.

"Pedestrian links, housing and public spaces should be at the heart of these plans, not retail sheds, cars and car parking."